Balsamic Pesto and Hummus Sandwich: No Nitrates Here

Nitrates can be hard to avoid, but by choosing organically grown vegetables and meats, you decrease your intake by a lot! When you make this delicious Balsamic Pesto and Hummus Sandwich, you’ll enjoy a tasty, nitrate-free meal.

What are Nitrates?

Nitrates or sodium nitrites are chemicals used in fertilizers.  They can also be a byproduct of waste breakdown and can migrate to ground water.  Nitrates can make their way in to plant foods from the soil that they grown in.  You may most commonly know nitrates for being added to many processed foods such as hot dogs, luncheon meat, bacon, ham, and sausages to prevent bacteria, enhance their color and shelf life, and make them more appealing.

Choose Organic

Some nitrates can be present in foods based on the soil in which they grow.  Organic fruits and vegetables typically have fewer nitrates compared to conventionally grown produce because more natural fertilizing practices are being used.

Nitrates Should Be Banned

Did you know that in the 1970s the USDA tried to ban this additive, but food companies complained that they didn’t have any other way to preserve meat?  Oh how sad…they can’t keep meat on the shelf for a year? Or make it more red so it will appeal more to our senses?  How about providing your consumers with fresh food?  How about caring more for our health instead of your profits?

You can find sodium nitrites in nearly every packaged meat product on grocery store shelves.  However, processed organic meats are not allowed to contain nitrates.  If you do purchase meat it is best to buy fresh, organic, and free-range if you can.

You may not be able to completely avoid all nitrates, but exposure to higher levels can be linked to some health problems.  Some studies suggest that the nitrates in processed meats can increase your risk of Alzheimer’s, diabetes, stroke, and heart disease.

The Solution

These are serious diseases.  The fact that what we are eating can promote these diseases should be taken seriously, too.  Preventing these diseases before we even get them is key.  One great way to decrease your intake of nitrates and provide your body with health promoting nutrients at the same time is to replace most packaged meat with colorful, organic vegetables.  Instead of a nitrate-filled meat sandwich, try a loaded vegetable sandwich.  Hummus for protein, crunchy vegetables, balsamic pesto sauce for great flavor, and all on sprouted bread.  Now that is a sandwich! Enjoy this tasty Balsamic Pesto and Hummus Sandwich.

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Prep Time 20 minutes

Total Time 20 minutes

Servings 1

Author Sara

Ingredients

• Balsamic Pesto:
• 2 cups basil leaves packed
• 1 large clove garlic peeled
• 1/4 cup pine nuts walnuts, or macadamia nuts
• 1/4 teapoon salt
• 2 Tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
• 1/4 cup olive oil this is estimated and I drizzle it into the food processor while it's running
• Sandwich:
• 2-4 Tablespoons hummus
• 2 Tablespoons balsamic pesto
• 4 slices cucumber
• 4 sticks of red pepper
• Handful of sprouts
• Couple large lettuce leaves
• 2 slices bread I like Ezekial sprouted bread
• Other ideas: avocado tomato, roasted eggplant or zucchini

Instructions

1. To make the pesto, in a food processor, add the basil, garlic, nuts, and salt.
2. Pulse a few times to chop the basil leaves, nuts, and garlic.
3. Add the balsamic vinegar.
4. With the machine running, slowly drizzle in the olive oil until the pesto comes together and looks like a nice wet sauce. Using more or less oil as needed.
5. Store pesto in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week. Makes about 1 cup.
6. Use the rest of the ingredients to build your sandwich.
7. Spread hummus on one slice of bread.
8. Spread balsamic pesto on the other.
9. Vegetables in the middle.

Recipe Notes

Choose organic ingredients when possible.